The Catholics occasionally come up with some good entries. There's even one entry here somewhere or other that my contributor told me was Orthodox and Lutherans are represented here more than once. But I spent the first 48 years of my 54 years as an Episcopalian so I'm not piling one but I have to honestly say that my old church retired this trophy.

The 10:34 post above by a different "Anonymous" reminds me of what I thought when I first saw the photos of KJS in her purple haze vestments: like a little girl playing dress-up in her daddy's clothes. And you can take "daddy" however you like. This set is, indeed, very girlie.

The ultimate irony here is, of course, that the subject of ridicule actually has this site listed on her blogroll . . . I think we're doing her a service, pointing out her liturgical errors. Maybe she'll comment and thank us!

Elizabeth - we're not all boyz here. There are even liberals who enjoy this site. And I fail to see what is "un Christian" about telling the truth. Has TEC gone so PC that disagreement is perceived as not Christian? The woos factor from TEC is stunning - it's as disingenuous as Fox news calling Obama a racist.

I'm a girl, a liberal, loathe Episcopal priest Barbie, think what you're wearing destroys any credibility in what you might write or say, and after 20 plus years working in parishes, have walked away from going to church because of this kind of hubris and disconnect.

PS - I am posted as "Anonymous" because when I use my real name, it does not get posted on this site. But we have many mutual friends of FB.

Dear Anonymous - First let me say that you can always sign your name at the bottom of your post before you "hit" send. That way, even though blogger will not record your name, it will be recorded in the body of your comment.

As for these vestments, well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, is it not? Some like classic Renaissance style like Michelangelo, others like a more modern style like van Gogh, others like cubist style like Picasso. Beyond personal taste in art, all these artists glorify God with their expressions of the beauty of God's creation.

The artist who designed and created the vestments for "the Green Season" is Colleen Hintz, founder and owner of Fruit of the Vine. She is very talented and very creative, having made vestments for Bishops Singh, Croneberger and Beckwith, as well as many ordained priests and deacons. The cope she made for Bishop Croneberger is particularly spectacular. It depicts scenes from the riches of God's bounty in the Diocese of Newark. All of her vestments are made with creativity inspired by the Spirit, careful thought and prayers of discernment All of her works are intended to glorify God in each their own way.

Do visit her web page. You will see all of the vestments I mentioned above, in addition to her series of quilts she made which depict the patterns used as signals and directions for those traveling the Underground Railroad. If you contact her, she will come to your church or civic organizations with a presentation that is both educational and inspiring.

At the very least, her web page will give some of those who frequent this blog a place to empty the venom some of you all obviously carry about ordained women in particular and The Episcopal Church in general.

I have placed this blog on my blog roll and visit it occasionally as a way to keep in touch with the sad reality of this particular time in our church. And, I admit, from time to time, to look at some of what the brothers and sisters in Christian community (not all of whom are Episcopalian) have, inspired by the Holy Spirit, fashioned or commissioned to express their relationship with God through Christ Jesus.

Yes, from time to time I gasp and think, "Oh dear." I do that when I look at works of art in museums, too. That does not diminish one iota the work of the artist.

If some of you wish to take your displeasure over the artistic works and make that a commentary on whatever it is that makes you angry or unhappy about The Episcopal Church or ordained women, that neither diminishes the church or the status of ordained women nor the credibility of either. It is only a reflection on you.

I hope you find peace.

I look forward to learning your identity - especially if we are FB friends.

I was going to leave a post that suggested two unicorns for the table piece and one for the vestment but then I read the post from Elizabeth KaetonI have to admit Ms. Kaeton speaks eloquently about this type of vestment art.But what I thinks she fairs to understand,some of us think this kind of art belongs in post modern museums and not as a part of worship.

You see, Ms Kaeton, your comment shows that you completely misunderstand both what I think is the purpose of this blog and why some of us cringe at some of what turns up in so much modern worship. Put simply, the Christian liturgy isn't a vehicle for artistic self-expression; for making points of our own, however worthy they may be. It's one of the chief means by which God remakes us and refashions us into something like what we could be. It isn't ours to take over for our own purposes. The fact that all your eloquence is devoted to arguing the other way around is exactly the problem.

Shame on you, Elizabeth, for invoking and accusing malice against ordained women as some sort of defence here. As one, I find it extraordinary that that is the reading you get from this. This is not a woman thing. Nor is it a lesbian thing.

Perhaps you haven't seen the scores of men who are represented on this site as well. In fact, they outnumber us.

The simple fact, as stated by those before me, is that you have perverted altogether the meaning and purpose of liturgical vestments. Though, perhaps, it should be said that the perversion begins with the invention of these so-called 'liturgical seasons'. What's the point of creating these colourful diversions from the actual lectionary? Are the 'seasons' thought up just so priests have the opportunity to disgrace themselves this way? I'm just titillated by what will be donned when 'gay rights' season or 'immigration rights' season rolls around. Good God.

The reality is, as also has been said, that vestments are to supersede your identity and personality. They can be ornate, sure, but really ought to remind someone of something actually liturgical or even vaguely Christian, don't you think? You may have just as well walked in and said Mass in your civvies, because these are clearly more about you than God.

Also, do you really expect that any successors of yours at your parish would ever share your enthusiasm for something so clearly of a very personal and particular taste? I wouldn't want to be the one to be handed down an entire sacristy closet of these.

Wonders what vestments Jesus and his followers wore at the first supper...

They had no lace I'm sure, and, in light of the purported tastes here, I'm sure would be seen as tasteless, tacky, and/or disrespectful of "worship", which, if I'm not mistaken, is a take off on an informal gathering of friends for dinner.

WHY WE'RE HERE

This site is dedicated to subjecting particularly awful Christian liturgical vestments or church decorations to the ridicule they so richly deserve. Contributions are welcome and can be e-mailed to websterglobe at juno dot com.